May Allah have mercy on you, my brothers and sisters- why is it that many of you still insist on scooting away from each other in the lines of prayer?  Often you will go to the masjid and try to stand next to someone, perhaps even timidly take their hand and move them towards you and all through the prayer you find they try to get away from you by inches!  Subhanallah!  Know what the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said about this most serious matter:

Nu’maan bin Basheer radhi’allaahu ‘anhu said, “Once Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam faced us and said: ‘Straighten your rows’. He repeated this 3 times. He then said:

‘By Allah, you must most certainly straighten your rows or else Allah Ta’aala will disunite your hearts’.

[Nu’maan radhi’allaahu ‘anhu goes on:] I then saw the people joining together their shoulders and ankles”.

[reported in Abu Dawood and Ibn Khuzaima]

So it is an indication of what is in the heart.  If you look around and see gaps, it is a bad sign of how close we are.  If you look around and see straight, tight rows, mashallah- you can see discipline, love, and unity.  There are masses of intellectuals having conferences about uniting the Muslims, but often they neglect this very obvious facet from the Sunnah itself.  So make sure your shoulders touch (gently) and your feet line up. 

If you love each other, brothers and sisters, get close to one another (don’t smash/or hurt each other) but- do not make those tiny devious gaps for your own “personal space”.  Do not be reviled to touch one another!  Take heed of the Prophet’s sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam warning- UNITE IN YOUR PRAYER LINES OR FOR SURE YOU WILL BE DISUNITED AS AN UMMAH!  This was an oath by our Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam - that when we divide ourselves physically in the prayer Allah divides our hearts.  Take it seriously- remind each other (in the best manner) and do not leave off straightening the rows yourself.  Do not be responsible for dividing our Ummah.